Farrar pips Cavendish

The Garmin-Transistions rider shot past Mark Cavendish of HTC-Columbia in the closing moments to claim victory in sweltering heat.

Cavendish had to settle for third place, with Euskaltel-Euskadi's Koldo Fernandez taking second.

Quick Step's Matteo Tasatto came fourth with Alessandro Petacchi of Lampre in fifth.

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) retained the leader’s red jersey with a 10 second advantage over his nearest rivals Igor Anton Hernandez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha).

Victory over sprint rival Cavendish was a real coup for Farrar, who had to overcome adversity on the day, having battled sickness for the preceding 24 hours.

“It’s a surprise for me today,” Farrar told Eurosport. “I was ill yesterday and I was ill all last night.

“Today I felt better and I suppose it was adrenaline in the end.”

In 30-degree-plus heat, a breakaway formed from the start line in Guadix, consisting of Arnaud Labbe (Cofidis), Pierre Rolland (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Jose Vincente Toribio Alcolea (Andalucia-Cajasur) and David Gutierrez (Footon-Servetto).

That quartet set the pace during the gradually undulating stage through Granada, Almeria and Murcia, until they were eventually swallowed up by the peloton with 13 of the 194 kilometre stage remaining.

Garmin, Lampre, HTC-Columbia and Quick Step all jostled for position as the finish line approached, with Cavendish making his move to the front first.

But the Briton went too early and his impetuousness allowed Farar to take full advantage, zip past him and claim the stage win.

The peloton travels the 151km from Caravaca de la Cruz to Murcia on the sixth stage of the race on Thursday, a route that takes in a nasty category two climb near the end.

The Vuelta finishes in Madrid on September 19.